ISLAMABAD, JAN 11, SPA -- President Pervez Musharraf says no agitation before or after the Feb 18 parliamentary elections would be permitted. Dismissing allegations about rigging in the election as part of an unfortunate political culture of Pakistan, the president said there was a need to exhibit civilised behaviour. But one should be very clear. We will not allow any agitation, before or after the election, he said at his weekly television programme Aiwan-e-Sadr-sey (from the presidential palace) Thursday night. Musharraf elaborated at length the measures taken by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and made it clear that the local bodies would not be suspended. Should it mean we should suspend the national assembly and the provincial assemblies when the local bodies polls are held, the President asked. He said it has been seen historically that such allegations are generally made by those who fear defeat at the polls. As a nation we ought to be ashamed while making allegations about rigging -- are we a banana republic and even unable to hold a free, fair and transparent election, he asked. The President said the election in Pakistan will in no way be different from that of any civilised society. He said the ECP has further improved the system of conducting impartial elections and said any bugs in the system have now been removed. Musharraf who described the Chief Election Commissioner as an honourable person and said he has never met him but once when he made an official call on him after assuming charge of his office. The President said as part of the measures now the Returning Officers will announce the results. When asked why the Presiding Officers are not allowed to do the same, he said it would just create chaos as there are around over 200 polling stations in a constituency and a candidate may win from one and loose in other. This would just create confusion, he added. Musharraf termed baseless the talks of ghost polling stations by some political leaders and mentioned that there are over 64,000 notified polling stations across the country, which cannot be changed. If there is any ghost polling station, that must be pointed out. The Election Commission will take its notice , the President said and added the allegations of ghost polling stations and rigging were indications of defeat. He said the development and progress achieved by Pakistan during last eight years was unprecedented and even much more than the achievements made over the past 50 years. There are several development projects being carried out across the country , the President said and added he being a moderate person wanted to take the country forward on the path of development. He said the judiciary in Pakistan is totally free and the judges of superior courts were performing their duties. The President said the media was free. He, however, described the steps taken in recent past about media as need of the hour . He said media and the local people are the best observers of the upcoming elections. He hoped that the media will do a balanced reporting of the elections without any prejudice.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/516605